If I had to rename Terri Irwin's book, I'd title it: The Layers of Persons' Lives: Steve and Terri Irwin. "Steve (and) Me: Life With the Crocodile Hunter" (Thorndike Press) is chock full of surprises, delights, plus much practical information about Australia, its wildlife, customs, traditions, and conservation efforts.
It should not surprise anyone to hear Terri Irwin's intelligence. But, I think many readers will be surprised. She "starred" on the television shows with her husband and daughter, Bindi, too few times (in my opinion) and many people might under-estimate Terri by her short TV narrations. But reading her book shows without question Terri Irwin's depth of knowledge about wildlife and her adopted homeland. She writes ~beautifully~. It's delightful--although painful--to read in her own words the transitions she made in her life, from single and woman protecting wildlife, to meeting Steve...falling in love...hoping he'd call...certain he would not...to visiting him a second time...to their wedding...
Delights continue with reading her first-person accounts of Stevo, her first treks into the bush, how she learned about the land and animals--and of course, her descriptions of Steve and their private and public lives. Terri --and Steve-- were never just two bumpkins running a roadside animal attraction. Both have a sixth sense about animals that Terri describes so well in her writing. But the backdrop for many fans will always be the fairy tale romance these two favorite persons shared. Chance meeting---fate? Yes, fate--with a destiny, a purpose, a life's purpose these two wildlife warriors shared, valued, pursued.
Terri leads readers along her journey into Steve's world, the world she would soon share. The trip she describes, however, also educates readers about Australia's bush and animals. Much of the terrain, the country itself, makes a fascinating read. She takes along on many of their private, and scientific, journeys, and introduces different animals and reptiles much as speaking of special and loved persons. Readers can feel the bumps on the trip along the fenceline...and hear the ocean at the end of their long trip. There's also realistic mentions of horrors mankind commits against poor, defenseless animals. As nasty as these stories are to stomach, Terri shows Steve's and her own passion to protect the wildlife the entire Irwin family has long loved.
Yes, The Layers of Persons' Lives would make a suitable subtitle. Terri Irwin certainly writes eloquently about those layers, in Steve and in herself.
Readers should expect to smile, to laugh, to cringe, to cry...to feel informed, included, engrossed...and to sob, deeply, as Terri finally describes Steve's death and how she and her family have grieved along the way. Her book will certainly fullfill readers' expectations--and much more than they expect.
Just a lovely book, Terri. Lovely. All best wishes in the coming years.
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The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch:
First, I'm not a friend, student, or family of Professor / author Randy Pausch.
Having read the 1-star, 2-star, and 3-star reviews on amazon.com, I felt a bit shocked. I liked the book much more than other reviewers who criticize the book for having more ego than depth, and less lessons of "the dream"--- minus a demand for a public journey through "My God, where art thou, my God." I don't think Dr. Pausch's book needs to include his personal beliefs about God (whatever those beliefs are--or are not) for this book to impart some lasting wisdoms.
Part of the beauty of the slim treasure, "The Last Lecture", is in its brutal simplicity.
Sometimes, people need reminded of the basics: Say please and thank-you; Wash your hands before you eat; Don't be purposefully mean--or rude--to others; Play nice; Dream Big; When you lose your dreams, STOP, refind them, enjoy them, LIVE them. Randy Pausch didn't include all those--I think he skipped the "wash your hands" one (LOL). But, he presents short reminders of very basic, simplistic, meaningful rules of living. In today's world of rudeness, meanness, random murders...(etc)..., I don't think these are meaningless topics to include in a person's "last book".
Could it have been more in-depth? Yes, I guess so. Yet, if I was dying, would I have the composure to write ANY words of meaning? What would any of us say if we had the chance to write and publish a book? If you could write 10-pages before you die, what would YOU include?
Randy Pausch describes "The Last Lecture" as 53 mini-lectures, and I think that is fitting. The book itself, I believe, would make great reading for our children ...pre-teens, teens, young adults... the people who need reminded to have manners, to dream (a lot), and work hard toward those dreams. I'm also quite impressed by the "Alice" program which Dr. Pausch created.
I thought it touching to hear a man describe writing Thank-you notes, even to the hospital workers who have treated him these last months. Too few of us stop to say thank-you. Randy reminds readers how much more meaningful it feels to receive a written thank-you.
I chuckled to read about his sewing endeavors-- and how he worked so hard to win the REALLY BIG stuffed animals at fairs---and more importantly, WHY it felt so important to him to win those.
This little book makes a big window into the thinking of a big dreamer (a very positive trait), a man intelligent enough to see bigger than most people ever see, and to allows readers to gain just a little understanding about how one man lived his journey--his life.
I do wish Randy Pausch had explained more about how everyday people can use the "head fake" in everyday situations... how people can positively manipulate to achieve positive outcomes in everyday relationships.
I think the Professor has much, much more to teach--this book offers the first lessons. Maybe, he'll be able to write book #2. I wish I'd been one of his students.
Judith
Note: The ampersand, in Terri Irwin's book title, is unacceptable to this blog's features, thus, it was changed to (and).
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